The Network for Health Equity and Development (NHED) has urged the Nigerian government to impose more stringent food laws to curb excessive salt consumption among Nigerians as the country commemorates World Salt Awareness Week 2025.
In a statement released on Thursday, NHED urged the implementation of “front-of-pack warning labels” and mandated salt standards for packaged and processed foods.
The “6 Ways to 6 Grammes” campaign runs from May 12 to 18. It aims to persuade Nigerians to follow the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recommendation to limit their daily salt consumption to six grams.
Every year, World Salt Awareness Week is held to increase public awareness of the dangers that excessive salt consumption poses to one’s health, including heart disease, stroke, and hypertension.
WHO recommends that adults consume less than five grams of salt per day. However, many exceed this limit due to high sodium levels in processed foods, seasonings, and street meals.
Recently, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare addressed widespread ‘misinformation about salt consumption after a viral video of a popular pastor, Chris Oyakhilome, the president and founder of Christ Embassy, circulated in which he discouraged Nigerians from following medical advice on salt intake.
The ministry clarified that salt is not harmful, but excessive consumption is a major public health concern.
It explained that salt contains sodium, an essential mineral for bodily functions like nerve activity and muscle movement. However, consuming more than the WHO-recommended daily limit of 5 grams increases the risk of severe conditions such as high blood pressure, stroke, heart failure, and kidney disease.
“Research shows that most Nigerians consume more than double the recommended daily sodium intake. This excessive intake is a major contributor to high blood pressure, stroke, heart failure, and kidney disease, non-communicable conditions that continue to claim thousands of lives annually,” the statement read.
In response, the ministry is implementing a national sodium reduction strategy, including launching the National Sodium Reduction Guidelines.
These guidelines mandate reductions in sodium levels “across all food categories from processed and packaged foods to meals prepared at home or sold in restaurants and by street vendors.”
Through the Coalition for Healthy Food Advocacy, NHED is spearheading advocacy efforts. This week, it hopes to educate the public, engage legislators, and the media on the significance of food labelling reforms.
Source: PremiumTimes
Image Credit: FreePik
